These are the new requirements in effect starting on August 1, 2018.
To compete in level 8 gymnastics, a gymnast must be able to do the following skills on each of the four events. If a gymnast’s routine doesn’t have all of the requirements, deductions will be applied.
In addition to the requirements below, all level 8 bars, floor and beam routines must have 4 “A” valued skills and 4 “B” valued skills.
Level 8 Vault Requirement
Level 8 gymnasts must perform a minimum of a front handspring vault.
Level 8 Bars Requirements
Level 8 gymnasts must have the following in their bar routine:
- Minimum of 1 Bar Change
- 1 Skill (minimum of “B”) with flight (the mount is ok) or turn (cannot be the mount or dismount)
- 1 Skill (minimum of “B”) which is from one of the following groups of elements: underswings, clear hip circles, stalder circles, circle swings or hechts
- A Salto dismount which is a minimum of “A” value
Starting in Level 4, many gymnasts start wearing gymnastics grips to protect their hands on bars. Check out our guide to the best gymnastics grips.
Level 8 Beam Requirements
Level 8 gymnasts must have the following in their beam routine:
- Minimum of 1/1 (360 degree) turn on one foot
- Acro series with 2 skills, one must have flight (Both of the skills must start and finish on the beam)
- One jump/leap that reaches a 180 degree angle split (can be included in dance series)
- Aerial or Salto Dismount (minimum of “A” value)
Level 8 Floor Requirements
Level 8 gymnasts must have the following in their floor routine:
- One Acro Series with 2 saltos or 2 directly connected saltos (the saltos can be the same or different)- An example would be front tuck- roundoff– back handspring– back tuck
- Three different saltos (can be isolated or in a series)
- A dance passage with a minimum of two different leaps, jumps or hops, one of which is a leap with a 180 degree cross or side split — they can be directly or indirectly connected
- The last isolated salto or last salto connection must have at least an “A” valued salto element (A front or back tuck is an “A” valued salto)
Check out a suggested gymnastics outfit for Level 8 gymnasts below.
| Gymnastics Gear for Level 8 Gymnasts | Sizes | Description | Price |
Pink Rays Leotard |
CS – AS | Beautiful, soft, ombre ray leotard with a rhinestone belt – perfect for your tween/teen gymnast to feel gorgeous at practice in! | $47.95 |
Mindset & Meet Journal |
NA | This gymnastics journal is what your gymnast needs to improve her gymnastics and have her best season yet! It’s over 100 pages long with mindset exercises, meet logs, end of season reviews, a place to collect autographs from her teammates. | $25.95 |
Running Girl Sports Bra |
XS-XXL | This cute strappy back sports bra for gymnasts is a great option. | $16.55-19.54 |
Destira Black Gymnastics Compression Sport Shorts |
Child XXS (3x) – Adult XL | Some gymnasts prefer to wear shorts over their leotard, either for modesty, comfort, or for whatever reason. These are a great option! | $28.00 |
Customizable Gymnastics Grip Bag |
One size fits all | This grip bag is perfect for your tween/teen gymnast. It features a tie dye leopard print design with option to personalize with your fav event and your initial.
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$27.95 |
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Bailie Beginner Dowel Buckle Gymnastics Grips
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XXS-L | They are a great first pair of dowel grips because they are narrower and smaller than a standard grip. The leather is easier to break in, and they let the gymnast keep more of their hand on the bar so they can feel their swing. | $34.95 |
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Work Hard Dream Big Gymnastics Backpack
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One size fits all | This gymnastics backpack is uniquely designed. There is a TON of space with many pockets, including the bottom section for shoes! | $39.95 |
Beige Velvet Cotton Mid-Rise Waist Gymnastics Underwear |
Kids 3-5 – Adult Large | Great for your gymnast if she feels more comfortable wearing underwear under her leotard. Nude, high cut and seamless. | $24.99 |
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111 Comments
This helped me alot!!!!!
this is amazing I learned so much
This helped me so much
I live in NY and i want to start gymnastics again any ideas?
Are you looking for a gym? What area of NY do you live in? I live on Long Island.
I want to start gymnastics. I’m like a level 5 but I don’t want to have glasses with no little kids. Is it too late for me to start
I want to start gymnastics. I’m like a level 5 but I don’t want to have glasses with no little kids. Is it too late for me to start
It is never to late to start at something you love
Im only level 3 and i have no idea what any of this means!
Im a level 3 too
Same here!!
Me too!
Lolllll same hereee
I am twelve in level one is it bad
No I’m almost 13 I’ve done gymnasts for 1 year and I’m level 2 your fine
i am level 8 but im really nervouse for this meet i have wednesday im 12
if u wanna get somewhere with gymnastics, yes it is very bad. but if it is just for fun, ok.
Hello nika don’t bully her i am 19 years old and started when I was 10 I was able to do a level a year (yes I know I’m a “old” gymnast) but I don’t care
She is level 2 meaning she can join the Olympic’s around age 21
Keep persuading you dreams Ife!!!
Please be be kinder nika
Madsyn joanna
I started gymnastics when I was six now I’m 10 and I’m level 6
I am twelve in beginners level is can i improve(advise needed)
Being twelve and level isn’t bad at all. I started at eleven and was a level 1 (recreational). Now it hasn’t been more than 3 months and I am now a rec level 3. I’m switching gyms soon and was already told that at my new gym I will be competing xcel silver. As for advice I would say you need to really practice a lot and decide what you goals are and if they’re reasonable. I mean, most of the competitive kids at levels like USAG levels 1-4 the kids are pretty young same thing with xces. l bronze-gold (but at my new gym the xcel kids are quite a bit older than the USAG kids.) Another thing I would say is when you get mental blocks you just have to go for it. I had major mental blocks when I was learning my back handspring and my back walkover on beam but eventually I got over it. Just try your best, I hope this helped!
I am 10 and im a level one and I feel like I am going to move up soon. Practice will help so much. If you have at equipment at home that’s great, but if not that’s ok to! For beam you can use a tape line on the ground, for floor you can use the grass or a soft surface! I hope this helped! Have a great rest of your summer!
I’m 13 and started when I was 9 and now I’m level 8 so don’t worry too much
Hi!thanks for all your helpful posts. Where can I find information on skill values- like which are A,B or C skills for optional levels?
You can buy the JO Code of Points or my Skill Progression Checklists have which skills are As, Bs
your gym also might have one so ask your coach
I’m a level seven and I’m ten. I skipped 5 and 6. I find get this.
Same I am in level 7 now. I skipped 5 because the competition score was an all-around 36.0 exactly. I am also hoping to get into level 8.
Well I’m 13 and jr elite!!
This helped me a lot and I am only 11 in level eight thank you
only 11?… is that supposed to be young for level 8?
I think so… Samantha, I doubt you’re too young to be in level 8.
The minimum age required for level 8 is 8. So , no, you aren’t too young for level 8.
I’m level 8 an I am only 7
same except im 8
I have just done the Great British frequency gymnastics level one and two
i’m level 5
this helped me a lot! i found out i am a level 6 not 5.
I’m a level 4 gymnast in Canada.
This helped me a lot thank you so much I was level 5 and then I read all of these and now I am level 7
glad to hear it!
Thanks this helped so much! I’m a level 8!
I’m jr elite!!
no one asked stop boasting.
nika you are being really annoying do not project your under confidence on someone who clearly doesn’t nned you negativity
You’re too real
Yay this helped me I know that I’m a level 2!
There is no such thing as level 11 unless you mean elite, or you are just lying.
There is no level 11
I think there is in some other country…I am not sure though…
There is know level 11 when you mo
Is back tuck a flight element? Because if it is you can do bus bus which is two flights so could u do back tuck back tuck? Just wondering 🙂
I am level 4 training 5
i am really good at gymnastics but i still can not do a back handspring inless it is on a trampoline
really good, huh?
Jeez! Your comments are pretty harsh! If I were you I would die it down a little bit. Just saying…
Yes please die down just let people have their fears
I am a good gymnast but struggle with mental blocks on backhand-springs and back tucks ect. I currently have a broken toe but just because I can’t do a backhand spring does not mean I am not good.
I am a excel silver gymnast
this helped me alot
I’m a self-taught gymnast – I think I’m level three at age twelve
This helped a lot! I am a USAIGC gold gymnast and I am moving gyms to compete USAG, and I really wanted to know if I would be level 8 or level 7, which I would be level 8 based off this article. Thank you!
What are the upcoming changes for level 8?
Can a gymnast compete level 8 after testing out of level 5 or do they need to compete 6 and 7 first?
no you cant skip two levels thats
Can a gymnast compete level eight after testing out of level five or do they need to compete level six and seven first?
You need to score out of L7, but L6 can be skipped.
I used to do gymnastics but quit. I have been self taught over the years and want to go back. By the looks of it, it seems I would be in level 7. I am 14 years old but feel ashamed to be so old with much younger people.
Anonymous – never be ashamed to pursue your dreams and goals. I am a gymnast mom and attend a lot of meets, based on the meets I attend you would not be the oldest level 7 or even level 6. Go for it!
Don’t feel ashamed. I am 17 years old and I compete with kids under 10. Just know that you will improve by joining and by improving you can be put higher up with people your age. You’re still young so keep up your gymnastics!
I think you’d be great! If I started right now, I’d be a level one and eleven years old! (Laughs at myself for being so ridiculously pathetic with flexibility and strength.) I believe in you!
my daughter can do all levels from here and down and she is a level 2 gymnast and been there for 2 months just becuase she cant do a round of backhandspring becuase she just sprained her arm.
i meant level 3
So sorry to hear about your daughter’s arm. We hope she is feeling better.
Wish I had found this when I was still doing gymnastics. I quit when I turned ten and would have been in level 8. I live in Australia though so the levels are different.
Hi! So.. Could anyone please tell me what skills you learn in level 8 and what skills you need to know in order to graduate to level 8, please??? I have the checklists for the 1-4 and the 5-7 levels but I cannot figure out which/if one of the other checklists has something to do with level 8????????
I’m level 8 an I am only 7 so that cannot be true ok
Im in level 6!!!
I live in Philly and I would love to enter gymnasticshq.
No offense but I think gymnasticshq is just a website
Hi! Iam level 4 but can do most of this, Thank you!
Hi!
Does this apply to Canada? I am trying for 8 next year, and think a minimum of a flipping vault is required, so I wanted to know if the rest of the requirements would apply thanks!
I’m I. Level 8 on beam do you have to do a back tuck and what are other C skills can I do instead?????
Hii!!
Im actually in india hence we don’t have levels but according to this I’m a level 4!!
I am a level one and I don’t know what all of this means it looks har. ( the reason why I can’t pass level one is cause I IDK how to do a back roll.
Don`t worry keep trying! maybe watch videos on how to do it!
I am 10 and a level 3. Looking at the requirements helped me SO much! Thank u! I only really practice floor and beam because for equipment I only have an air mat and a beam that’s on the ground. On floor I can do a handstand, cartwheel, round off, back bend kick over, stand up from a bridge, front walkover and back walkover. All I can do on beam is a cartwheel
hello, im 11 years old and im level 10 gymnast. just letting everyone know this is a very well done list, everything is perfect and correct based on my experience from level 8! great job!!!!! im the youngest in my group, the oldest is 17 second oldest is 13.
Wow thanks, i will be in level eight next year and these requirements helped me a lot
I am 10 in level 6 so I guess that’s good
I am 13, and I really love gymnastics. I can do a cartwheel, roundoff, and a handstand, and a split. Is that bad? I just started gymnastic.
actually that is pretty good! I am 8 years old and I am level 3
can i do a side leap then do a split full on floor because im not very good at switch leaps
Do the Level 7/8 requirements change for 2022?
I’m level 8 an I am only 7 so that cannot be true ok
i’m in level 6 and im 13. i did level 6 for two years and i didn’t even realize. i should have gone to level 7 so i’m dissapointed. now i want to skip to level 8. is a backwalker over back hand spring required on beam or just a handstand backhandspring?
I don’t know if I am level one or 2 . I will just do level 1 to review .My classes are next week !!
I got a slip from gymnastics saying I’m level 8. But I don’t have a beam routine and can’t even do a back walkover!!
Thanks for sharing this guide on Gymnastics Level 8 Routine Requirements! I found it super helpful as a gymnast looking to improve my skills.
I really love gymnastics but i cant seem to move up from level 8
I really love gymnastics but i cant seem to move up from level 8 any ideas
These skills are old now they have new requirements for level 8 for the 2024-2025 levels
I love Gymnastics but I am never aloud to do it because my parent’s are scared I am going to get hurt.